We are absolutely delighted to have a song from Oxford gents Stornoway on this year’s Christmas record. Gondwanaland is a beautifully wistful track about a chance encounter on an icy day. We spoke to Stornoway’s bass player Oli Steadman about the song and his idea of a good Christmas.

Can you tell us what inspired your choice/the song for the record?

Gondwanaland is a song of comfort, sounds to me like a helping hand offered in a distant land, which is what MSF are doing in Syria. It’s a long time since we last performed the song, and every time I hear it these days I’m reminded of something hopeful & encouraging, completely removed from the act of performance. It’s like a disembodied voice lending support, wherever you happen to be in your life at the time.

What makes good Christmas music?
Anything that helps you feel warm and close to home.

What’s your favourite Christmas song?
Without a doubt: James Brown – Let’s Make Christmas Mean Something This Year, Parts 1 & 2. It’s on a compilation called MOJO’s Blue Christmas which we play in our tour bus every festive touring season.